Slacker & Steve's Blog

Great Mate Debate: Separate Bank Accounts

by Slacker And Steve,posted Mar 29 2012 5:35PM

Yi!!

Today John and Michelle joined us live on the air for another Great Mate Debate. They’ve been married for 6 months, but lately they’ve had some intense discussions revolving around money. John has a really great job and provides most of the income for the both of them…However, they have separate bank accounts. Michelle would like to combine their bank accounts, but he’s pretty resistant to the idea. He doesn’t see it necessary and he’s already taking care of the bills so what’s the point? Plus, he thinks it will be a huge hassle to combine them, so if what’s working is working, why mess with it? Michelle doesn’t think this way is working. She doesn’t make as much as him and still has things to pay off herself, which is fine, but she feels like she has to ask him for an allowance if she wants to go shopping or go out to lunch with the girls. She’s getting to the point where it’s not even about the money, but thinks he’s planning for their divorce. John, is confused as to why being financially practical means divorce and thinks she is thinking way too much into this because he’s not planning their divorce, even though statistics say otherwise, but rather he truly does love her and thinks what they have is working. What do you think? Could Michelle be thinking too much into this? Is she being unrealistic?

Whose side are you on?

Slacker noticed that John really likes to think with his head but Michelle is all heart and as Steve mentioned, they came together and fell in love in the ying and yang of it all. Slacker keeps thinking, why not just go combine the funds if it really means that much to her, but Steve…Reminded Slacker of the moment when he met with his divorcé attorney for his first marriage. She asked him one simple question, did you comingle your funds...And he said no…So he was the guy that never did. His divorce attorney then said to him, “Of course you are getting a divorce.” She was saying if you don’t put your money together than you’re not really together. Yet, there’s all these studies out there…Combine your funds it will help the marriage or don’t combine your funds it will save your marriage, but what is the right answer?

I’ve always thought money is a fishy thing. I hate borrowing money from guys I date or just anyone in general, so being in a marriage and combining your money…I would feel so guilty, but at the same time I automatically think to combine the bank accounts. How could you not? You are a family...You are no longer just two people dating each other. It makes sense so I just have to go with Michelle on this one.

This Michelle has it made - works part-time, all the bills are paid and she works a part-time job and can spend "her" earnings on anything she wants. Then she tires of asking her husband for money to go to lunch with old friends - USE YOUR OWN MONEY MICHELLE - are you a moocher or what!!! Get a weekly allowance for "fun" if you must or else go work full-time and pay for some of the bills too if you are so bored....come on!

03/30/2012 8:12PM

SEPARATE BANK ACCOUNTS

This Michelle has it made - works part -time, all the bills are paid and she works a part -time job and can spend "her" earnings on anything she wants. Then she tires of asking her husband for money to go to lunch with old friends - USE YOUR OWN MONEY MICHELLE - are you a moocher or what!!! Get a weekly allowance for "fun" if you must or else go work full -time and pay for some of the bills too if you are so bored....come on!

04/02/2012 7:58AM

Separate bank accounts

The solution is to each keep their own accounts but to also open a joint account that they both contrtibute to with the money left over after paying bills and putting some money into savings. That way no one can spend so much as to get them in to a problem like spending all the money and not leaving enough to pay for the necessities. If he isn't agreeable to something like this then I would worry that he doesn't trustt her at all. Maybe he thinks she is going to take him for all his money. Hey it happens everyday. if she is not agreeable to that solution then maybe she isn't to be trusted and is after all his money. I'd say a combined account is a pretty good compromise.